Elendil was the father of Isildur and Anárion, a survivor of the Downfall of Númenor, and the founder and first King of Arnor and Gondor. Elendil was also known as Elendil the Tall (he was a lofty 7'11" or 2.41 meters tall) and Elendil the Fair.

Contents

History

Elendil was born in Númenor. He was the son of Amandil, Lord of Andúnië and leader of the FaithfulNúmenóreans. Like his father, Elendil maintained a strong friendship with the Elves and preserved the old beliefs in Ilúvatar and reverence for the Valar; he stood against the barbarous practices of Ar-Pharazôn the King and Sauron his advisor. On the advice of his father, who foresaw the coming destruction of Númenor, Elendil put nine ships off the eastern coast and loaded all his people and possessions aboard them.

When the catastrophic Downfall occured, Elendil, his sons Isildur and Anárion, and their supporters fled to Middle-earth, sailing east in the nine ships. With them they took the palantíri, the "Seeing Stones" that were given to the Lords of Andúnie by the Elves of Tol Eressëa, and a seedling of Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor.

The ships became separated during the tumultuous voyage to Middle-earth; while Isildur and Anárion landed in the more southerly lands near the haven of the Faithful at Pelargir, Elendil and his people arrived at the northwest near Lindon. For this reason there were two kingdoms of the Númenóreans in exile, Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south. After Elendil finally landed in Middle-earth, he proclaimed in Quenya: "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta" ("Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I have come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"). His heir and great-grandson by 39 generations Aragorn II spoke these words again when he took up the crown of Gondor as King Elessar at the beginning of the Fourth Age.

Elendil lived in Arnor, where he founded the city of Annúminas. His son Anárion established the city of Minas Anor in Anórien, and Isildur founded Minas Ithil in Ithilien. Across the Anduin the city of Osgiliath was built. In both realms were built towers for the palantíri, with which the lords kept contact.

In time the evil lord Sauron returned to Middle-earth, establishing a stronghold in Mordor, next to Gondor. In 3428 Sauron attacked, seizing Minas Ithil. Isildur fled north to his father, leaving Anárion in charge of Gondor. In 3434, King Elendil and Isildur returned south together with the Elven High King Gil-galad and their combined armies, and fought in War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. At the end of the long siege of Barad-dûr, in the year 3441 of the Second Age, Sauron came out to personally do battle. Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron and cast him down, but were both slain, and Elendil's sword Narsil was broken when he fell. His son Isildur used the broken sword to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. However, despite the urgings of Elrond, Isildur chose not to destroy the Ring at Mount Doom and was eventually betrayed by the Ring in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, slain by Orcs.

Legacy

Elendil was a great warrior, a wise king, and a heroic figure among the Dúnedain and other Men of the West. Isildur built a hidden tomb for his father on the summit of the beacon hill of Halifirien. Its presence was considered great enough to hallow the entire hill, hence its name (Halifirien means "holy mountain" in Rohirric).

Etymology

Elendil's name actually means "Devoted to the Stars" in Quenya. It was intended to signify "Elf-friend", but the Dúnedain tended to confuse the Quenya words for "Elf" and "star" because of their similarity. Nimruzîr is the Adûnaic translation of his name.

Portrayal in Adaptations

In the opening exposition of Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring, Elendil is played by Peter McKenzie. Unlike in the books, Elendil is killed by a blow of Sauron, instead of having a part in destroying him with Gil-galad. Instead, Isildur deals the fatal blow to the still-living Sauron by cutting off his Ring.